Shirley Ann Sirman

On July 1, 2024, at about 3 am, Shirley Sirman peacefully departed this life in her sleep. Cause of death was pancreatic cancer. 

Shirley Ann Neufeld was born March 28, 1944 in Salinas, CA, to Bernhard J. Neufeld and Queen Esther Wagner, and had one sibling (older), Donna Faith. Shirley grew up loving to play with her sister, their aunt Marilyn, and cousins, at her grandparent’s farm/property near Salinas, and at Monterey Bay. Shirley’s forebears settled in central California, some before the 1849 gold rush era, who loved God, family, America, and the outdoors, and were very Christian religious. She has forebears and family who served in each American war, who were in Jamestown, VA, and on the Mayflower (John Howland). Shirley grew up loving animals, all of God’s creations, and nature, and loved riding her horse which she got in 6th grade. She had many pets including a dog, horse, duck, monkey, mouse, and rat as a child, and later more dogs, cats, chickens, horses, cows, a cockatiel bird, and dairy goats as an adult. She was naturally physically strong, and in elementary school years won a mile running race without training for it, and won a swimming race. Shirley was naturally talented in writing and reading. She graduated from Monterey High School and earned an Associates Degree at Fresno City College. Shirley attended numerous different protestant Christian churches in her life and always had a faith in God.

Early in her life Shirley was married to David Lute, later, Edward Hunt, and then later Jim Sirman in 1972. Shirley and Jim later investigated, studied, prayed about, and received answers to their prayers by the witness of the Holy Spirit, which, despite great opposition, led to their joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and were later sealed as husband and wife in the Los Angeles temple for time and all eternity. They each have remained faithful, devout church members since. Shirley bore six children, Steve Lute (later Sirman), Tami Hunt, Leif, Christian, Jaime (Zuniga) and Tera (Johnson) Sirman. Only Tami had passed away before her (from a seizure). Shirley competed in some long distance (25-100 mile) horse races in her 40’s and 50’s, and was an excellent horse rider. In 2006 Shirley and Jim served a full time mission for the church at Cove Fort, Utah. Shirley has strong American patriotism and is devoted to the U.S. Constitution. Shirley has 23 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Her sister and parents preceded her in passing from this life. Shirley deeply loves her family and relatives, spending time with them, and knows that families are eternal in God’s plan of happiness. Most important to Shirley was her love and devotion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, her baptismal and temple covenants with Them, and Their restored church on the earth in the latter days preparatory for Christ’s Second Coming. After her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Shirley said numerous times that we’re all in the Lord’s hands, we can’t stop mortal death when it’s our time, and she was “giddy” happy to graduate from life to the spirit world where she could have a joyous reunion with departed family, and also to do God’s work there and be a ministering angel to her posterity on earth. Shirley had no fear of death, and had an extraordinarily faithful, positive attitude about her “transfer” to the next chapter of life. She emphatically stated and wrote that the best decision she and Jim ever made in their lives was to join and be faithful in Christ’s restored church.

 Shirley wishes for all to celebrate her life, not to be sad, and that all will be well, in Christ, as we follow Him and His Spirit. Shirley invites all to hear, study, and pray about the message of Christ’s restored church and gospel, from which to receive all of Christ’s blessings unto eternal life with Him and eternal family.

 It’s requested that instead of any flowers or gifts for Shirley’s memory, that donations can be made to worldwide Humanitarian Aid relief managed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, via their website, where 100% of funds go to persons in need.

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